AQI

(AIR QUALITY INDEX)

BY
SANTHOSH
SHARMIKHA
AQI

 Air quality index is a number used to convey the QUALITY OF AIR by

the Government to the General people.

 According to the Indian Government, Indian AQI range from 0-500.

 Indian (CPCB) AQI:
According to the Indian Government (CPCB), Indian AQI range is from 0-500, from 0
being good and 500 being severe.

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INDIAN AQI RANGE

0-50 GOOD no impact on health

51-100 SATISFACTORY Breathing difficulty in sensitive group
101-200 MODERATELY Breathing discomfort for children and ill patient
POLLUTED
201-300 POOR People already suffering from heart disease can
experience breathing difficulty.
301-400 VERY POOR Respiratory illness for long term exposure.
401-500 SEVERE Causes severe health impact.
US-EPA AQI:
The ranges of US AQI from 0-500 according
to US-EPA, 0 stands for good and 500 for
severe.
RANGE:
AIR QUALITY INDEX PARAMETERS:

 PARTICULATE MATTER(PM 10 or
PM 2.5)
 CARBON MONOXIDE (CO)
 OZONE (O3)
 USLFUR DIOXIDE (SO2)
 NITROGEN DIOXIDE (NO2)
 AMMONIA (NH3)
 LEAD (Pb)
How to calculate Air Quality
Index?
 The formula to calculate AQI is the same as per the Indian CPCB and
US-EPA. The AQI is calculated using the equations separately for
parameters. For example, if you wish to calculate AQI on the basis of
four parameters, use the equation four times, and the worst sub-index
communicates the AQI. A subindex is a linear function (two different yet
related notions) of the concentration of pollutants.


Ip = [IHi – ILo / BPHi – BPLo] (Cp – BPLo) + ILo

 Ip = index of pollutant p
Cp = truncated concentration of pollutant p
BPHi = concentration breakpoint i.e. greater than or equal to Cp
BPLo = concentration breakpoint i.e. less than or equal to Cp
IHi = AQI value corresponding to BPHi
ILo = AQI value corresponding to BPLo
1. Indian equation for AQI:

 The Indian AQI range differs from that of US-EPA. To calculate

AQI, a minimum of three parameters should be taken out of
which one must be either PM10 or PM2.5.
To calculate sub-indices, 16 hours of data is needed.
 If the current concentration of PM2.5 is 110 ug/m3, then referring
to AQI range as per Indian standards BPHi = 120, BPLo = 91, IHi
= 300 and ILo = 201.
Putting the values in equation and solving:
Sub Index= [(300-201)/ (120-91)] (110-91) + 201 = 265.86
 Similarly, for other parameters, the sub-index can be calculated
and the worst sub-index shows the AQI.
2. US-EPA equation for AQI:

 US-EPA range is different from the Indian AQI range. The equation can
be used differently if more than one pollutant is present and the worst-
hit sub-index reflects the AQI.
 For example: Let’s say you want to calculate AQI for carbon monoxide
and the truncated concentration (Cp) of CO is 11.0 ppm, then IHi = 150,
ILo = 101, BPHi = 12.4, BPLo = 9.5 as per US-EPA range.
Putting all the values in the equation and solving,
Ip = [(150-101) / (12.4-9.5)] (11.0-9.5) + 101 = 126.34
 Calculate AQI for other present parameters and apply the equation
differently, identify the worst-hit index and it will give you AQI.
PARTICULATE MATTER

 A mixture of particle with liquid droplets in the air forms Particulate

matter.
 Particulate matter (PM)
 SIZE
 PM-10 micron-PM 2.5 micron (Ultra fine particles)
 SOURCE: PM released from construction, smoking, renovation, volcano
eruption
 These particles, when inhaled can penetrate deeper into respiratory
system cause respiratory disease. Ex: Asthma, coughing, throat
irritation.
HOW TO MEASURE PM

 Use lasers to scan particulate matter density in cubic meter of air or

rely on satellite image.

SAFE EXPOSURE LEVEL:

PM 10 (24 hours) are 0-100 ug/m3.
PM 2.5 (24 hours) are 0-60 ug/m3 as per Indian CPCB.
 NITROGEN DIOXIDE:
 As per the Indian Government, safe exposure is 0-80 ug/m3 (24 hours) and as
per US-EPA, it is 0-53 ppb (1 hour).
 CARBON MONOXIDE:
 The safe level of exposure according to the Indian government is 0-04
mg/m3 (1-hour) and according to the US-EPA is 0-9.4 ppm at 8 hours
 OZONE:
 . As per the Indian Government, safe exposure is 0-100 ug/m3 (8 hours) and as
per the US-EPA, it is 0-0.054 ppm (8 hours).
ACTION PLANS TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY:

 The Central Government has launched National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) under
the Central Sector “Control of Pollution” Scheme as a long-term, time-bound, national
level strategy to tackle the air pollution problem across the country in a comprehensive
manner with targets to achieve 20 % to 30 % reduction in PM 10 and
PM2.5 concentrations by 2024 keeping 2017 as the base year for the comparison of
concentration.
 The Central Government has notified a Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) in 2018
identifying timelines and implementing agencies for actions identified for prevention,
control and mitigation of air pollution in Delhi and NCR.
 Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was notified on January 12, 2017, for
prevention, control and abatement of air pollution in Delhi and NCR. It identifies
graded measures and implementing agencies for response to four AQI categories,
namely, Moderate to Poor, Very Poor, Severe and Severe + or Emergency.
 As per Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) data, the
number of ‘Good’, ‘Satisfactory’, and ‘Moderate’ days has progressively increased to
159 in 2018, as compared to 152 in 2017 and 106 in 2016, and the number of ‘Poor’,
‘Very Poor’ and ‘Severe’ days has reduced to 206, compared to 213 in 2017 and 246 in
2016. In Delhi, reduction in PM2.5 levels in 2018 is 7.3% over 2017 and 14.8% over
2016. In Delhi, reduction in PM10 levels in 2018 is 8.6% over 2017 and 16.5% over
2016.
 SAMEER app has been launched wherein air quality information is available to public
along with provision for registering complaints against air polluting activities.
 The WHO Air quality guidelines recommend levels and interim targets for common
air pollutants: PM, O3, NO2, and SO2.

 Recommended 2021 AQG levels compared to 2005 air quality guidelines

PREVENTION:

 Limit the frequent use of vehicles

 Do not use and burn plastic
 Minimize waste production
 Minimize the use of air conditioners, refrigerants.
 5R’-
1. Reuse
2. Reduce
3. Recycle
4. Repair
5. Refuse
THANK YOU